Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Out of Touch: Insecure Writer

October already. There's no end to the subject matter I can pull up to address my insecurities. One thing I've felt a lot of in the past three months is being out of touch with other writers. Starting in July, I've had on and off computer issues. Viruses, malware, unidentified issues that have kept me off line or forced me to use the old slow desktop. Some days I only had time to visit three or four blogs and my posting fell way off from about five times a week to one or two times. I felt out of touch with the writing community I've come to count on over the past twelve months. I felt alone.

I don't mind being alone 90% of the time but even when I am, I know other writers are out there, just a few clicks away. When I didn't have a computer, I was cut off. I couldn't visit the blogs that make me laugh, the ones that teach me something, the ones I can just totally agree with it and maybe even add something to it in the comments. It was a temporary situation but there are still moments when I feel I need to do more to keep in touch.

A few of the local members of the statewide group, Pennwriters, meet once a month at a local library and have a critique session. I've only made it once since I decided I must have some actual face time with other writers but I'm determined to get there more. By joining this fun blog idea of Alex Cavanaugh's, I'm making more friends and being comforted by learning I share the same problems in my writing career as other authors. Sign up and share your insecurities.

I have a few friends I know I can email when a specific problem or question arises. Many people gave me advice and pointed me to the information I needed to self-publish my book on Kindle. (Nobody had been able to tell me yet how to get through the logjam on Smashwords any quicker though).

There are ways to keep in touch even if you can't attend meetings in person. I'm still building an online circle of support and hope I provide a little to others. So stay in touch. When you feel frustrated and all alone, check out your bloggy friends or other online groups. Investigate writers' groups on your area, usually they have notices in the paper or maintain a website, and try to get some face time. Even attending booksignings can put you in touch with other local writers.

What do you do if the isolation of being a writer starts to get to you? What's your favorite way to stay in touch with fellow authors?

I've been critting with a couple authors these past few months, so I'm actually feeling pretty connected right now. But I haven't had as much time to make the rounds to the blogs, or keeping Tongue In Cheek as up to date as I'd like either.

I blog . . . and then I look around the house for my family - they're always here somewhere . . . sleeping, talking, laughing, reading, homeschooling . . .I feel lonely with my writing sometimes, but I also teach writing classes to kids at our homeschool co-op. Even though they are decades younger than me, I hear the echo of my own writing struggles in their words, and that helps too. Plus, there's this writing group that just meets two miles down the road . . . if I can get myself there on time, that's good too.

Cultivating support is essential, I think. The blogs is a great way to find some. I belong to my local writers guild and became their blog director. I found my local critique group through them, who I see about every 3 weeks to hear why they hate my work. lol Just kidding. We all enjoy each other and I'm better because of them.

Writing is a lonely profession. I always have people around with such a large family. My isolation problem is self induced because I was so determined to finally finish my book that I devoted every minute of free time during the last five months to completing it. I cut myself off from the computer and avoided social engagements. I seem to have either hurt a lot of people or made them angry because I feel sort of shut out by the people I used to have face to face contact with. My self imposed isolation allowed to finish my book, but I need to make up lost time with friends and family.

We met at the Pennwriters group you're referring to. I love my quiet time, too...but there comes a time when I wish someone were sitting at the table with me answering my insecure questions: "Is this any good or should I just get rid of it?" Call me if you'd like to get together.

Blogging is really my outlet as I don't know any writers really in person. I've discovered in my neck of the woods that writers like to keep to themselves except for the occasional writer's convention. I've yet to attend one of these but I think I'm going to the next time one rolls around.

Hey, new follower and fellow insecure writer here. I definitely feel the isolation sometimes. That's why I think it's so important to join a critique group. Online groups are great, but I also think it's important to join one that forces you to go outside once a week and meet with other writers. It's good to get out, and it's good to talk to other people going through the same thing you are. I've made several new writer friends that way and I can't imagine getting through this without them!